Bryan P. Stirling has been appointed as the United States Attorney for the District of South Carolina, following his selection by U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi. Stirling took the official oath of office today in a private ceremony at the U.S. District Courthouse. The ceremony, led by U.S. Circuit Court Judge Julius Richardson, included participation from Stirling's friends, family, and law enforcement partners from federal, state, and local levels.
Before this appointment, Stirling was the director of the South Carolina Department of Corrections for over ten years, making him the longest-serving prison director nationwide. Under his leadership, the department, consisting of more than 4,000 employees, managed 16,500 inmates across 21 prison facilities. Stirling introduced a systemic reentry and training approach for inmates that has contributed to South Carolina maintaining the lowest recidivism rate in the United States since 2021.
Stirling's career also includes nearly six years as Deputy Attorney General. He served as Chief of Staff to Governor Nikki Haley from October 2012 to September 2013, overseeing the governor's cabinet and managing the Office of Executive Policy and Programs. Stirling is a graduate of the University of South Carolina, earning his degrees in 1991 and from USC’s School of Law in 1996.
In his new role as U.S. Attorney, Stirling will direct federal criminal prosecutions and civil litigation involving the United States in the District of South Carolina, leading a team of 120 prosecutors and support staff. His office will be spread across locations in Columbia, Charleston, Florence, and Greenville.